Blog

Gevorg Tamamyan Reflects on the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting and the Yvonne Awards

Gevorg Tamamyan/LinkedIn

Jun 5, 2025, 07:40

Gevorg Tamamyan Reflects on the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting and the Yvonne Awards

Gevorg Tamamyan, Editor-in-chief of OncoDaily and the President of SIOP Asia Continental branch, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Another annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has come to an end. Chicago, once again, feels empty.

On May 30, during the Yvonne Awards by OncoDaily – our version of the Oscars in oncology – I had initially planned a long speech. But since I was the last to speak and the only thing standing between the people and the dance floor was me, I decided to keep it short.

It was 2013. We had just landed in Chicago. I was a third-year clinical fellow and a recipient of ASCO’s IDEA award. We were welcomed by two Vanessas and Kim – who later became dear friends. Twenty young doctors from developing countries, all attending the world’s largest oncology gathering for the first time. Each of us was handed an envelope – our 10-day stipend, which covered some gifts for back home, daily essentials, and a pair of brown shoes I bought on sale at a nearby Macy’s.

Years went by. A few days ago, on May 30, when I glanced out from the stage during the Yvonne Awards ceremony, I saw the leaders of the oncology world from all corners of the globe, and I saw young doctors – just like we once were – experiencing their very first ASCO whirlwind. And through the lights pouring in from the windows behind them, I saw a reflection of a younger me – arriving in the big city from a distant land, proudly wearing his new brown shoes.

The Yvonne Awards and the OncoDaily Party have, without a doubt, become major events. Friday night at ASCO, under the lights of Chicago. It’s all the result of a dream, of hard work by a dedicated team – our OncoDaily family. Proof that everything is possible, that challenges only shape us, and that the best is still ahead.

But none of this would be real without the people – those who quietly help at every step, with kind words and kind actions, with smiles, and with the genuine joy of celebrating others, whether friends or strangers. These are the people who make the world better. And it was pure happiness to be surrounded by them that night – and every day at ASCO.

Yes, it’s all about people.”

Bernard A. Fox, Co-Founder / President / CEO at UbiVac, shared this post on LinkedIn, adding:

“Gevorg Tamamyan I agree, the presence of so many friends and colleagues at ASCO2025 once again transformed Chicago into a hometown filled with members of my extended family… Chicago felt Full!

Thanks as well for the invitation to your event. I was honored to attend the OncoDaily reception party and, at Dr Shushan Hovsepyan’s request, co-present the Yvonne Award in the Global Oncology category to Dr. Dario Trapani.

It was also an honor to meet so many others working to increase access to life-saving treatments for patients in parts of the world who currently lack access.

I also think your party was a great example of Work Hard / Party Hard.

Congrats to all at OncoDaily on a successful event.”

ASCO Yvonne Award OncoDaily Party